In spite of the well-acknowledged environmental benefits of electricity generation from wind
energy, there is increasing concern about impacts from wind turbines on local ecosystems and
on the natural scenery. A GIS-based approach is developed to analyse the effect of different
nature conservation criteria on the wind energy potential in quantitative terms. Results for two
case study regions in Germany, representing a coastal area with quite good wind conditions
and an inland region with limited wind resources, illustrate to which extent the ban of wind
turbines in, for example, landscape conservation areas, special bird protection areas, or areas
with high visual sensitivity reduces the potential for electricity generation from wind energy.
We conclude that even under strict nature conservation constraints there is still a large potential
for on-shore wind energy use that can be used to establish a sustainable electricity supply
in Germany.